Swap Meet Pottery -Bauer, Yakumo, Syracuse, Mason's

Well, just to make a good day better, I really made what I consider to be some great finds at the swap meet this morning. My poor little "very vintage" backpack was really tired by the time we got home. The weather was also perfect (another plus). Here is a rundown on the loot as I found it. As usual pictures and listings will come later.

Bauer Seashell Serving or Snack BowlsMy first find was a lot of three Bauer Los Angeles Bowls. They are off-white with Gold ribbed highlights on the rim and tab handles. This gives them the appearance of sea shells. They are 8 3/8" Handle to handle x 8 1/2" wide x 3" deep. They seem to be too large for cereal or soup bowls so I am calling them serving bowls. I looked thorough literally hundreds of Bauer bowls online but could not find anything like these. They are clearly inscribed in a large triangle "BAUER" "CALIF" "USA" on the bottom. All are in excellent condition except for one bowl which has a small chip in the foot ring which I do not consider significant.

Historical Data -- Starting in Louisville, Kentucky, and then flourishing in Los Angeles, California, J. A. Bauer Pottery Company created simple, yet beautiful stoneware from the late 1880s to the early 1960s. With lines ranging from redware flowerpots to brilliantly colored dinnerware, Bauer Pottery was a staple in American homes for many decades.

Today, the work of J.A. Bauer has been reintroduced by a ceramics studio in Los Angeles, located just minutes from the original plant. The new Bauer line, Bauer 2000, is being produced using original pieces as models, with an emphasis on items originally manufactured by Bauer in the 1930s and 40s. To the best of my knowledge all of their ware is marked "2000".

More Bauer at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

Syracuse SY178 Restaurant ware Chop PlatesNext up, in a box of plates I saw three Syracuse Cherry Blossom Chop Plates (replacements designates these SY178). I thought they were dinner plates until I got home and realized that I already have some of the dinner plates listed and they are only 10" diameter while these chops are 11 1/4". They have a white scalloped body with beautiful pink blossoms and vivid black branches. This is a very nice pattern in the world of restaurant ware.

Historical Data -- Syracuse China, located in Lyncourt, New York (a suburb of Syracuse), was founded in 1871 as Onondaga Pottery Company (O.P. Co.) in the town of Geddes next to Syracuse and is still producing to this day. Initially a producer of earthenware, in the late 19th century, O.P.Co., under President James Pass, developed a new china body and won the medal for translucent china at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. In 1897 production turned to the vitreous china body. Its first colored china body, "Old Ivory," appeared in 1926. The company thrived with its hotel and railroad sales. The narrow-bodied "Econo-Rim" was tailored for the cramped table space of dining cars. Highly sought after collectible patterns sell regularly on eBay and at estate sales. The company was renowned for its fine china designs until 1970 when it limited its production to mostly restaurant dinnerware. They purchased the Mayer China Co and the Shenango China Co in 1984. In 1995, Libbey Inc. of Toledo, Ohio purchased the Syracuse China Company to complement its strong presence in the food service industry. My best information is that Libbey is closing the plant in 2009 and will manufacture off shore with the Syracuse trademark.

All Syracuse Articles in this blog

More Syracuse at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

Mason's Ironstone CreamerFor the third time in a month I spotted an older piece of Masons Patented Ironstone. A little octagon shaped cream pitcher with a snake shaped handle. There is a piece snapped off of the handle bottom and a crack in the handle top which does not go all the way through. Very vivid blue/orange/red floral design all around. It is 3 3/4" high.

Historical Data -- Mason's Ironstone Chine was created in 1968 by the acquisition of G.L. Ashworth & Bros in the Broad Street Works in Hanley, Staffordshire area.

All Mason's Ironstone Articles in this blog

More Mason's Ironstone at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

Yakumo Dragonware Tea Set

Finally the find of the day, An almost complete Yakumo Dragonware Tea Set. This is a wonderful work of art. It is just garish enough to be beautiful. I have the Teapot, sugar and creamer with lids. three saucers, four cups with lithophane Geisha (Empress) heads in the bottom and finally six dessert plates. All pieces have moriage slip and gold gild designs. More on this great find later.



Yakumo at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

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